Makes sense: Masahiro Tanaka says goal with Yankees is ‘to become world champions’

During a press conference in Japan on Thursday, Masahiro Tanaka, the highly sought-after right-hander who chose the Bronx as his landing spot in the U.S. after agreeing to a seven-year, $155-million deal with the New York Yankees, surely ingratiated himself to the team’s fans when he responded to a questions regarding his soon-t0-begin MLB career.

Asked by the media what his goals are now that he is New York Yankee, Tanaka simply and clearly stated: “To become world champions.”

Yep, he’ll fit right in with the Bronx Bombers.

For Yankees fans concerned about how well the 25-year-old Tanaka will make the transition to major league baseball, he said that he already has had conversations with fellow Japanese baseball import Yu Darvish about adjusting to pitching in the big leagues.

Saying that he is relieved the arduous process of making the leap to the MLB finally is over, Tanaka said he picked the Yankees because “They gave me the highest evaluation and are a world-famous team,” according to the New York Daily News.

When asked to pass along a message to Yankees fans in English, things got a bit awkward.

“I don’t speak English,” he admitted. “So I’ll just have to win the trust and confidence of the fans with my performance on the field.”

Don’t worry, Masahiro Tanaka. Most New Yorkers don’t speak English either, even the ones that claim English as their first language.

Oh, I kid, I kid. New Yorkers speak English just fine. And Tanaka will quickly learn some of the vilest words in the English language should he get off to a rough start.